Overview
- The National Museum of American History in Washington has opened “In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness,” a building-wide display of 250 objects that each tell a story from 1776 to 2026.
- Seventy-six pieces are on public view for the first time or only rarely, offering fresh access to parts of the Smithsonian’s vast collection.
- A centerpiece is the Revolutionary War gunboat Philadelphia, now under active conservation that visitors can watch through viewing windows.
- The mix pairs touchstones like Thomas Jefferson’s writing desk, George Washington’s uniform, and the Star-Spangled Banner with newer culture such as a 1928 Duke Kahanamoku surfboard, a Nintendo set, and Melania Trump’s 2025 inaugural gown.
- Museum leaders say they distilled nearly 2 million holdings into 250 choices after three years of work to help people see themselves in the national story.